Starting off with some crazy (npi) mental health news, psychotherapists are now beginning to diagnose depression and anxiety in –infants. Yes, infants. Before you know it, newborns will begin suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after enduring complications during delivery. Fetuses will suffer from depression due to lack of exposure to light.

I’m all for diagnosing mental illness in children, but infant depression? Unless it’s mistreated, the concept is ridiculous.

“He says he doesn’t put babies on the couch. Instead, he observed Jayda through a one way mirror. He was looking for clues on why she wouldn’t bond with her mother, Kari Garza.”

What?

“Psychologist Douglas Goldsmith says ‘even by the first birthday, some of the research is saying we should be able to start to see signs of more serious social disorders.’

There are some warning signs to look out for, such as a lack interest in sights and sounds. Others include of lack of desire to interact; listlessness; or excessive crying.”

I can’t help but think it’s rooted in a physical rather than a mental problem. I excessively cried for six months as an infant; no knew that I’d developed eczema and the itching was unbearable because I wasn’t able scratch.

“Figuring out what’s depression versus normal behavior is hard, according Pediatrician Linda Nelson of the Franciscan Children’s Hospital, because ‘the crankiness and all of that, teasing that out from true depression, it’s very difficult.'”

“I may be way off the mark on this one, but if Iâm not mistaken, an infantâs cognitive abilities are incredibly limited and, for the most part, are dictated entirely by instinctual behaviors. It seems that it would be impossible to determine if an infant had depression or anxiety because itâs impossible to ask them.”

Nope, not off the mark at all.

Want to know what dealing with a bipolar is like? The following is dead on:

“Bipolar is a hell of a disease, and I wonder if patients [at my community health center job] knew how devastating it is, whether they’d choose to label themselves that way.

Bipolar used to be called manic-depression. People with bipolar disorder are constantly on a roller coast ride between severe depression and mania. On the depressed end, this can include feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, changes in eating (over- or under-), changes in sleep patterns (can’t go to sleep or can’t wake up), and recurrent thoughts of death.

On the manic end, bipolar people experience feelings of grandiosity, believing they’re capable of things nobody can do. At this end of the spectrum they often sleep very little, their thoughts race, and they can’t stop talking. They tend to get involved in risky activities, such as unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments. Some feel more angry than expansive in their manic phase, or when they’re on their way up or down.”

Congrats. You get the gold star. You’ve just learned something today (if you’re not bipolar).

It’s trademarked as Remeron in the U.S. and Zispin in Great Britain. The generic name is mirtazapine. Sounds like a name for a German lady – Fraulein Mirtazapine.

According to the wonderful wikipedia, mirta treats “mild to severe” depression.” That’s a wide spectrum of patients to cover. Mirta is as effective for people with mild depression as it is for those who are dang near suicidal everyday? I’m not convinced.

Of course, since it’s a med, it’s used off-label for panic disorder, GAC, OCD, and PTSD among other health problems.

If you’re you suffer from bipolar and get a prescription for this stuff, get another doctor quick: mania is a side effect.

I won’t get into the fine details of how mirta works, but it appears that it enhances neurotransmitter actions rather than affect serotonin levels directly.

There’s my new medication lesson of the day.

I’m late on the bandwagon, here. I’m sure Furious Seasons, CL Psych, and other blogs have railed on the injustice of Judge Weinstein’s stupid – yes, it is stupid – decision to uphold his gag order (he imposed it so why would he change it?) that keeps blogs from “dissemination” Eli Lilly’s leaked documents. Basically, the judge wants to block wiki Zyprexa Kills from showing this info. Any other blog that has the documents, links to it, or publishes it is â well â subject to a gag order as well. *gag*

I have a personal opinion on the matter and since you’re reading this blog, you’ll be subjected to it.

Judge Jack B. Weinstein is way too biased in Lilly’s favor.

I’d like to know more about past cases that Weinstein has presided over. Is there a pattern? [UPDATE: In a case involving tobacco companies’ marketing practices, Weinstein ruled in favor of allowing plaintiffs to file a class-action suit against tobacco companies .]

I can’t find anything about Weinstein’s financial affiliations. He seems clean. In fact, he scaled back plaintiff lawyer fees for the 8,000 plaintiffs represented in the $700 million Lilly settlement case. He may just be trying to keep confidential court documents in – just that – court.

But the leaked documents that may possibly burst Lilly’s Zyprexa bubble should be allowed to remain in public hands. Why keep it confidential now? Much of these documents show that Lilly has done the following:

tried to cover up the link between Zyprexa and a significant increased risk of diabetes

Zyprexa causes extreme weight gain

Zyprexa can raise blood sugar levels causing hyperglycemia

Those facts are nothing to wink at. This information should not be confidential or gagged, what have you. Zyprexa is proven to have severe adverse effects that require a black-box warning from the FDA. From what I’ve heard (and understand), Zyprexa does help people – Zyprexa seems to have proven effects, warding off psychotic episodes in those with bipolar disorder.

But patients should be allowed to make an informed decision about their medical health and treatment; gagging vital information that prevents that is a stupid and ignorant move on Judge Weinstein’s part. I can only imagine that no other judge would go as far as to ban wikis from publishing the documents. What does Lilly have to fear - an investigative report by 20/20? They’re already paying out settlements by the millions/billions. Let’s get John Stossel on the case!